We are pleased to announce that Miko has been awarded the title of ‘Coffee Producer Company of the Year’ by Building and Facilities News. The publication brings the latest developments in the buildings and facilities management sectors to the attention of 15,000 readers each month. After a challenging but very rewarding year, the accolade has come as a pleasant acknowledgement of our unfaltering efforts to be the best in the business.

The award is owed in no small part to the conservation work we have been doing in South America. The huge success of our bestselling organic coffee brand Puro has allowed us to raise €1 million to help fund the purchase and protection of 15,000 acres of majestic rainforest – the ‘lungs of the earth’. Every day we are seeing long-threatened flora and fauna returning to these areas and flourishing. With continued success, there is still much more we can do.

“We are elated to have received such a prestigious award,” says Adrian Stagg, our Managing Director. “It stands as recognition of the great things we have achieved with Puro, and of our commitment to delivering an unreservedly positive, hands-on, tailor-made customer experience. Competition in this sector is vast, but more than 200 years’ experience of perfecting the art of roasting and blending affords us the aptitude and impetus to continue to deliver exceptional coffee.”

Miko benefits from 23 offices across Europe, Australia and South Africa, a roasting plant in Antwerp, Belgium that stands as one of the world’s largest coffee ports, and a prolific partnership with the World Land Trust. We also have five regional offices throughout the UK. One of the reasons we have stayed ahead of the competition is because we offer a national service, but with a regional presence. Adrian says, “It means our teams can be there face to face to talk through our machines and coffees, guaranteeing consistency in service and quality.”

In addition, we began roasting coffee in the UK for the first time in 2014 and launched two new coffees – Hand Roasted in Cornwall and Freehand. We also relocated our distribution centre to a new hub in Sheffield and our Head Office to Chertsey in Surrey, where we enjoy the luxury of space. Bigger, better training facilities and larger show rooms help create a more productive working environment for our staff and a more immersive experience for our customers.

Despite increasing competition and customer expectations and pressure on pricing and margins, we have recognised the importance of running efficiently so that the customer experience is not adversely affected. “Miko is a very solid company, so well placed to compete in such a market,” says Adrian. “Our strategy to operate in the mid to high end markets means quality and service are the key drivers – and that is where we excel.”